5 of a family dead in explosion inside cleric’s residence

TALOQAN (Pajhwok): At least five members of a family have been killed in a bomb blast in the Barak district of northern Takhar province, an official said on Monday.

SunatullahTimori, the governor’s spokesman, told Pajhwok Afghan News that the explosion took place inside Mullah Farooq’s house in the district bazaar late on Sunday.

Farooq was the prayer leader at district’s grand mosque, he said, alleging the cleric had kept the explosives inside his residence. Farooq, his wife, two of their children and another woman were killed in the blast.

Provincial police chief, Brig. Gen. Noor Mohammad Hakimi, said an investigation into the incident was underway.

“We suspected Farooqof having links with the Taliban, but could not find evidence,” he said. The militants are yet to comment on the incident.